Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday said China is willing to exchange views with other countries on human rights but will not allow external interference in its internal affairs under the guise of human rights topics.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told journalists that China attaches great importance to protection of human rights as he attended a joint press conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

People without prejudice will see the significant progress China has made in the area of human rights, said Wang.

China is willing to exchange views on human rights with Germany on the basis of equality and mutual respect, he said, stressing the country will not allow external interference in its internal affairs.

The legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens are guaranteed by the constitution and laws, Wang said, and China adhere to the principle of equality before the law.

Any person engaged in illegal activities, no matter what position and what belief, will be handled according to the law, he added.

Wang and Steinmeier held the fourth round of foreign ministerial strategic talks between China and Germany on Monday.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged the United States to stop using so-called human rights as an excuse to interfere in China's internal affairs.

At the ministry's daily press briefing, Hua said it's justified to bring Xu Zhiyong, a Chinese citizen who violated Chinese law, to justice.

The US Department of State on Friday said the United States "is deeply disappointed" that a Chinese appellate court has upheld the four-year prison sentence for Xu and called on China to release Xu immediately.

Hua urged the US side to stop make irresponsible remarks on relevant judicial cases and stop undermining China's judicial sovereignty and independence.

China is a country ruled by law, the spokeswoman said, stressing no foreign country has the right to interfere in Chinese judicial trial.